Category: Uncategorized

The day dawned bright, but quickly clouded over. We were ready to go by 6am. We had a plan in mind- not a grand plan, but a plan, nonetheless. I had been perusing Google Maps and found a road through the hills that followed a nice stream. What with it being July and the fact…

International Migratory Bird Day was also Global Big Day this year. So, we took the opportunity to drive to a few good spots around the state and take a few walks to see what we could see. We also decided to see if we could beat our former high number of 79 species seen in…

Finally- it appears that the Helena Valley is welcoming some migrants. Three quick dog walks before 9am this morning netted a healthy 30 species. New for the year are Willets, White-faced Ibis, and Yellow-rumped Warblers. The Warblers were massing at the Ponds- along with Ruddy ducks, Northern Shovelers, Hooded Mergansers, American Coots, Mallards, a tiding…

Sitting out on the deck this evening, the quality fo light started to change a bit. I looked up from my reading material and noticed that the generic grey sky that was present when I went out to the deck had been replaced by a small stretch of mammatus clouds. I’ve never seen mammals clouds…

I have always enjoyed “making”: I’ve always loved cooking. I spent a decade brewing beer- both as a home- and commercial brewer. I’ve been making ceramic bowls and whatnot for almost 15 years, now. But only one the last year have I spend any real effort making bread. Cookies, scones, pies – sure, loads of…

I don’t think my heading – Hiemipause – is a word. At least not yet. But to me, combining the idea of a gradual change over time- pause, and the latin root for winter- hiemi works very well. Winter is slow to give up its grip on Montana. Living north of the 46th parallel means…

The extreme cold has passed. The ice remains on the roads and pathways, and the trails are in terrible condition. So, I am spending most of my outside time in places like parks. The paths are typically a little better maintained and lack the frozen chicken heads that are left behind when hundreds of footprints…

A cold front moved in a few days ago. Enough of a change that we have been relegated to very short walks for the past several days. I was hoping to make a good go of the 2021 Backyard Bird Count. I was planning to spend much of Fri, Sat and Sun out afield, rambling…

Getting out in the world – regardless of the cold and wind – and tramping around in nature is simply invigorating. I will admit to not always loving the first 100 feet or so as the wind buffets me and the snow stings my face, but nature walking provides something both calming and invigorating at…

Raptor releases never get old. We were invited to watch a Bald Eagle Release a few days ago. We leapt at the opportunity. This marks or 10th or 11th release. Mostly eagles, bus we have also done a Short-eared Owl, American Kestrel, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk. It never gets old seeing a bird that has…